Curtain control valve



Dec. 20, 1966 J. P; REYNOLDS CURTAIN CONTROL VALVE Filed March 30, 1964 F i g. 3

: INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,292,657 CURTAIN CONTROL VALVE John P. Reynolds, Long Island City, N.Y., assignor to Buensod-Stacey Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 355,830 Claims. (Cl. 137-512.15)

The invention relates in general to a fluid flow control device for air conditioning systems and, more particularly, to a constant air volume regulator.

Flexible curtain flow regulators of the type involved herein are typically illustrated in Patent No. 3,060,960 and is an improvement over that shown in Patent No. 3,053,270. In such devices, the flexible curtains are resiliently urged into a predetermined position relative to perforated walls to provide a desired flow rate. In the event a sudden change occurs in the pressure differential across the regulator or the volume of flow therethrough, the flexible curtains are moved toward or away from the perforated walls so as to maintain a substantially constant flow to the room or space being conditioned. The action of the curtains therein is a rolling or pealing off relative to the perforated wall. As changes in volume of flow or differential pressure may occur quickly, such regulators may be subject to hunting and thereby produce objectionable noises within the system.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a flow regulator having a dampened response characteristic which will neverthless be sensitive to changes in pressure and flow volume within the fluid flow system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid flow regulator in which there is a minimum number of parts arranged in a simple manner.

In one aspect of the invention, a fluid flow regulator can be disposed within a fluid flow duct in which there is a housing with oppositely inclined perforated Walls, through which air passes, that are joined at a crown section. Flexible curtains having their edges fixed adjacent to the crown section and pivotable about such section are arranged to cover and uncover the perforated walls. Each curtain has a rod extending along and fixed to the free edge of the curtains opposite the fixed edges. A freely rotatable shaft is arranged parallel to the plane of the inclined walls and is centrally mounted in the housing, a fly wheel or rotatable inertia member being fixed on the shaft. A pair of actuating arms have their far ends attached to the curtain rods and their inner ends attached to or adjacent to the peripheral portion of the fly wheel. Radius rods are pivotably attached to the crown section with their opposite ends attached to the curtain rods. Biasing means are attached to the shaft to resiliently urge the shaft to a position where the curtains are fully rotated away from covering the perforated walls. Another aspect of the invention provides adjustable means for the biasing means.

The biasing means also can include a crank arm on the shaft and a lever pivotally mounted on the housing with a spring attached to the crank and the lever, such opposing the movement of the curtains towards their respective walls.

Other advantages, objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flow regulator having portions broken away and partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the apparatus of FIG. 2 shown in a different operative position; and

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FIG. 4 schematically shows the invention arranged in a fluid flow system.

Fluid flow regulator 10 (FIG. 4) is disposed across the outlet of fluid flow duct 12 so that the base of housing 14 is open to receive fluid flow from the duct 12. The inclined walls 16, 18 have perforations 20 therein to provide a passage for fluid to flow therethrough to duct discharge or outlet 22.

Housing 14 of regulator 10 has a rectangular horizontal cross-section and has oppositely disposed side walls 24, 26 with inclined perforated walls 16, 18 extending therefrom which are joined at a crown area or zone 28. End walls 30, 32 and side walls 24, 26 have base member means 33 arranged for mounting the regulator on the duct 12.

Rectangular shaped flexible curtains 34, 36 are located within the regulator, such curtains being of a size to cover the entire or selected perforated portion of the inclined Walls 16 and 18. The upper ends 34A, 36A of curtains 34, 36 are attached to crown 28 of the housing 14. The lower edges 34B, 36B of curtains 34, 36 have rods 38, 40 attached to and extending therealong. Radius rods 42, 44 With their upper ends pivotally attached to bracket 28A on the crown 28 have their lower ends attached to the rods 38, 40. Pairs of radius rods 42, 44 are used at each end of the curtains.

Freely rotatable shaft 46 has its ends journaled in opposite end walls 30, 32, centrally disposed fly wheel 48 being thereon. A pair of actuating arms 50, 52 are arranged with one end of each connected to their respective curtain rods 38, 40. The opposite end of each is pivotally mounted on the periphery of the fly wheel 48 on opposite sides thereof. When the fly Wheel is rotated degrees, the actuating arms will cause the curtain rods. to move outwardly with the curtain to a position where, after the 90 degrees of rotation, curtains 34, 36 will cover the perforated walls 16 and 18. Ifthere is fluid flowing through the regulator, the differential pressure caused by this restriction will maintain the curtains 34, 36 in fluid tight engagement with the perforated walls 16 and 18. It is to be understood that more than one fly wheel can be used and that the fly wheel or inertia member could be located on the exterior shaft ends of shaft 46 outside of the casing as well as interiorly.

An exterior extension 46A of shaft 46 has fixed thereon a crank 54. Angled or bell crank lever 56 is pivotally mounted on end wall 30 with spring 58 connected between the end of the pivotally mounted lever 56 and the crank 54, such urging the curtains into open position as seen in FIG. 2. Upon increase of differential pressure across the curtains and tending to move the same toward perforated plates 16, 18, control spring 58 Will oppose the counterclockwise rotation of fly wheel 48 in response thereto.

An adjustable means 60 can be provided for adjusting lever 56 about its pivot point to increase or decrease the tension in the spring 58. Lever adjusting device 60 comprises a long bolt 62 having a head 62A on one end and a nut 64 welded or otherwise secured to side Wall 26. The threaded portion of the bolt 62 passes through a threaded portion of an actuating stud 66 which is freely rotatable in the end of the lever 56. Rotation of adjusting bolt 62 will cause the desired angular movement of lever 56 to give a predetermined setting to flow regulator 10.

The simple fly wheel on longitudinal shaft 46 with actuating levers 50, 52 provides an uncomplicated mechanism for giving the regulator the high inertia or dampening characteristics to prevent fluttering of the valve due to sudden changes in the system.

It should be apparent that various details of the construction may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid flow regulator having a housing with oppositely inclined perforated wall means extending to a crown section and flexible curtain means with edge means fixed adjacent to said crown section, said curtain means being pivotable relative to said edge means to cover and uncover said' perforated wall means, the combination including rod means extending along and fixed adjacent the free end of said curtain means opposite said fixed edge means, a freely rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the plane of said inclined wall means and centrally mounted in said housing, a fly wheel inertia means on said shaft, actuating arm means having end means thereof attached to said rod means and inner end means attached to said fly wheel means adjacent its peripheral portion, radius rod means with end means pivotably attached adjacent said crown section and having opposite end means attached to said curtain rod means, and biasing means attached to said shaft to resiliently urge said shaft to a rotated position where said curtain means is fully rotated away from said perforated walls.

2. In a fluid flow regulator having a housing with oppositely inclined perforated walls extending toward a crown section and flexible curtains having edges fixed adjacent to said crown section and pivotable relative to said edges to cover and uncover said perforated walls, the combination including a rod extending along and fixed adjacent to the free end of each of said curtains opposite said edges, a freely rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the plane of said inclined walls and centrally mounted in said housing, a fly wheel means on said shaft, a pair of ac-,

tuating arms having end means attached to said rods and their opposite inner ends attached to said fly wheel adjacent to its peripheral portion, radius rods with their ends pivotably attached adjacent to said crown section and each having its opposite ends attached to said curtain rods, and biasing means attached to said shaft to resiliently urge said shaft to a rotated position where said curtains are fully rotated away from said inclined perfo rated walls.

3. ,In a fluid flow regulator having a housing with op positely inclined perforated walls extending toward a crown section andflexible curtains having edges fixed adjacent to said crown section and pivotable relative to said edges to cover and uncover said perforated walls, the combination including a rod extending along and fixed adjacent to the free end of each of said curtains opposite s'aid edges, a freely rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the plane of said inclined walls and centrally mounted in said housing, fly wheel means on said shaft, a pair of actuating arms having end means attached to said rods and their opposite inner ends attached to said fly wheel adjacent to its peripheral portion, radius rods with their ends pivotably attached adjacent to said crown section and each having its opposite ends attached to said curtain rods, biasing means attached to said shaft to resiliently urge positely inclined perforated walls joined and extending.

toward a crown section and flexible curtainsw having edges fixed to said crown section and pivotable relative to said edges to cover and uncover said perforated walls, the combination including a rod extending along and fixed adjacent to the free end of each of said curtains opposite. said edges, a freely rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the plane of said inclined walls and centrally mounted in said housing, a fly wheel fixed on said shaft, a pair of actuating arms having ends attached to said rods and their opposite ends attached to said fly wheel adjacent to its peripheral portion, radius rods with their ends pivotably attached adjacent to said crown section and each having its opposite ends attached to said curtain rods, and biasing means attached to said shaft to resiliently urge said shaft to a rotated position where said curtains are rotated away from said perforated walls, said biasing means including an arm on said shaft, an angled lever pivotally mounted on the housing, and a spring attached to said arm and lever.

5. In a fluid flow regulator having a housing with oppositely inclined perforated walls extending toward a crown section and flexible curtains having edges fixed to said crown section and pivotable relative to said edges to cover and uncover said perforated walls, the combination including a rod extending along and fixed adjacent to the free end of each of said curtains opposite said edges, a freely rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the plane of said inclined Walls and centrally mounted in said housing, a fly wheel fixed on said shaft, :1 pair of actuating arms having ends attached to said rods and their opposite ends attached to said fly wheel adjacent to its peripheral portion, radius rods with their ends pivotably attached adjacentto said crown section and each having its opposite ends attached to said curtain rods, and biasing means attached to said shaft to resiliently urge said shaft to a rotated position where said curtains are rotated away from said perforated walls, said biasing means including an arm on said shaft, an angled lever pivotally mounted on the housing, a spring attached to said arm and lever, and lever adjusting means to vary the position thereof so as to change spring tension.

No references cited.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. WeaKtE As is ant x min r. 

1. IN A FLUID FLOW REGULATOR HAVING A HOUSING WITH OPPOSITELY INCLINED PERFORATED WALL MEANS EXTENDING TO A CROWN SECTION AND FLEXIBLE CURTAIN MEANS WITH EDGE MEANS FIXED ADJACENT TO SAID CROWN SECTION, SAID CURTAIN MEANS BEING PIVOTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID EDGE MEANS TO COVER AND UNCOVER SAID PERFORATED WALL MEANS, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING ROD MEANS EXTENDING ALONG AND FIXED ADJACENT THE FREE END OF SAID CURTAIN MEANS OPPOSITE SAID FIXED EDGE MEANS, A FREELY ROTATABLE SHAFT ARRANGED PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID INCLINED WALL MEANS AND CENTRALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, A FLY WHEEL INERTIA MEANS ON SAID SHAFT, ACTUATING ARM MEANS HAVING END MEANS THEREOF ATTACHED TO SAID ROD MEANS AND INNER END MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FLY WHEEL MEANS ADJACENT ITS PERIPHERAL PORTION, RADIUS ROD MEANS WITH END MEANS PIVOTABLY ATTACHED ADJACENT SAID CROWN SECTION AND HAVING OPPOSITE END MEANS ATTACHED 